Ladle feeder assembly



Nov. 28, 1961 T. F. KEEGAN LADLE FEEDER ASSEMBLY 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledMarch 25, 1957 lNVENTOR 72/00 4: fiA eea/m/ ATTO R N EY Nov. 28, 1961'r. F. KEEGA 3,010,563

LADLE FEEDER ASSEMBLY Filed March 25, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR77/0/1145 F KfE'G/IN ATTORNEY Nov. 28, 1961 T. F. KEEGAN 3,010,563

LADLE FEEDER ASSEMBLY Filed March 25, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYUnited States Patent 3,010,563 7 LADLE FEEDER ASSEMBLY Thomas F. Keegan,Lansing, Mich., assignor to i James H. Reighart, Cleveland, Ohio FiledMar. 25, 1957, Ser. No. 648,170 2 Claims. (Cl. 198-53) This inventionrelates to a feeder mechanism for making controlled additions of bulkmaterial to subsequent unit operations. More particularly, the inventionrelates to a ladle feeder assembly for making additions offerromanganese, for example, as in the making of steel. The ladle feederassembly provides ease of loading, rateof-ilow control, and emergencydumping.

- The economy and progress of the United States has often been measuredin the amount and quality of steel and other alloy metals produced inour steel mills and metallurgical plants. Various types of processes andplants have been designed and built to increase the quality and amountof metals production. A critical factor in the making of steel and otheralloys is the addition of relatively small amounts of metal fluxmaterial and the like to the melt being produced to give the desiredqualities to the final metal or alloy product. Not only must the correctquantity of these additive materials be introduced into the mass, but itmust be introduced at the proper time and temperature. found that asuperior quality product results if the additive material is introducedat a controlled rate of flow so as to insure even mixing and uniformdistribution in the mass resulting in an homogeneous product. Previousmechanical means for making ladle additions have not provided anemergency dump feature in the event of mechanical failure of the ladlefeeders. An entire heat of steel or other'alloy can be ruined by afailure to introduce the additive material at the proper moment and inthe correct amount.

' It can therefore be seenthat failure of the ladle feeder assemblywhile additive material is being introduced into a heat results in onlypartial introduction of the desired amount of additive material to theheat, giving rise to losses amounting to thousands of dollars due to theresultant poor quality product or complete spoilage of the entire heat.I Loading of the additive ladle feeding device constitutesanotherproblern encountered. Complicated hoist and conveyor systems havebeen necessary to raise the additive material so that it could bedropped into a heat either manually or by some mechanical means nothaving the positive control and versatility found in the presentinvention. On the whole, automation at the point of ladle or'furnaceloading has not been successful and, where attempted, has been discardedin favor of hand charging.

The extreme heat generated in the area in which ladle additions are mademake hand operations extremely diflicult. In addition, thesuccessful useof complicated fine tolerance mechanical or electrical feeder devices isprevented due to the violent heat fluctuations in the Working area.

i It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a ladle feederassembly capable of making controlled rateof-flow additions.

A further object of this invention is to provide a ladle feeder assemblycapable of emergency dumping in the event of ladle feeder assemblyfailure.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a ladle feederassembly capable of being easily and simply loaded so as to eliminatethe need for expensive auxiliary loading equipment.

Another object of this invention is to provide a ladle feeder assemblycapable of continuous operation not In addition, it has been iceafiected by extremely high temperatures and wide temperaturefluctuations.

Another object is to provide a rugged, simple troublefree structurecapable of high production and economical maintenance.

Other objects and advantages found in the construction of my inventionwill be apparent from a consideration of the following specification inconnection with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the ladle feeder showing in phantomlines the feeder bed connector bracket which is connected to the driveunit suspended below the hopper and transmits the vibratory movementcreated by the drive unit directly to the feeder bed.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the support base showing the open-endtrunnion supports.

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the ladle feeder in the loading positionpivoted'on the rear open-end trunnion supports.

FIGURE 4 is a sideview of the ladle feeder in the horizontal feedingposition with a break-away portion showing the feeder bed connectorbracket and the drive unit.

FIGURE 5 is a side view of the ladle feeder in the emergency dumpposition pivoted on the front open-end trunnions.

FIGURE 6 is a side view of the ladle feeder pivoted on the rear open-endtrunnions, thereby inclining the feeder bed and providing additionalrate of flow control.

FIGURE 7 is a partial perspective view of the rear hopper supportsshowing the fork-type construction and the axles which engage the rearopen-end trunnion supports.

FIGURE 8 is a partial perspective view of the front hopper supports andthe axle therethrough which engages the front open-end trunnionsupports.

FIGURE 9 is a partial perspective view of the feeder bed or chutenestled within the hopper showing by arrow the direction of vibratoryreciprocating movement of the feeder bed or chute.

General description In general, a support base is provided having twopairs of open-end trunnion supports, a front pair and a rear pair,extending upwardly therefrom. Each pair of trunnion supports ispositioned near each end of the support base. An elongate horizontallyoriented hopper or chute having axle type supports extending downwardlyis positioned above the support base. The axle type supports are inregister with and freely engage the open-end trunnions therebysupporting or cradling the hopper above the support base. The hopper iscomprised of a normally horizontal table portion and a normally upwardlyand outwardly extending loading portion. A vibratory feeder chute or bedis provided within and above the table portion of the hopper. Thevibratory feeder chute or bed extends outwardly beyond the hopper tableportion and is actuated by a motor and drive unit provided beneath thehopper table portion. A vibratory feeder chute or bed extension isattached to the vibratory feeder bed or chute, thereby enabling theladle feeder assembly to deliver material directly into a furnace orover the center of a ladle. Means are attached to the loading portion ofthe hopper so that the hopper may be raised and pivoted about the frontpair of the open-end trunnion supports to an emergency dump position.The loading portion of the hopper may be moved downwardly, thus pivotingthe hopper about the rear pair of open-end trunnion supports and therebybringing the loading portion adjacent to the floor level. In this mannerloading is greatly facilitated.

3 By actuating the means attached to the loading portion of the hopper,the hopper and attached feeder chute may be pivoted upon the rear pairof open-end trunnion supports, thereby changing the angle of thevibratory feeder chute or bed and thus controlling the rate of flow' ofmaterial passing from the hopper and over the vibratory feeder chute orbed and its extension. The resulting uniform distribution of theadditive material in the heat creates a superior end product of steel,for example, or other alloy being manufactured.

Specific description The support base 12, as shown in FIGURE 2, isrectangular in shape and is preferably constructed of cold rolled steel,although other metals can be used that provide the necessary ruggedness,strength and stability. The support base 12 must be installed in such amanner that the ladle feeder bed or chute 13 is horizontal during thenormal feeding operation, as shown in FIGURE 4. A

front pair of open-end trunnion supports 14 are provided at the deliveryend of the support base 12. A rear pair of open-end trunnion supports 15are provided at the opposite or receiving end of the support base 12.

The trunnion supports 14 and 15 are constructed preferably of steel andare welded in an upright position to the-support base 12 as shown inFIGURE 2. The open portion 16 of the open-end pairs of trunnion supports14 and 15 are formed so as to permit free in and out movement ofaxle-type supports 17 and 18 provided on the table portion 20 of thehopper 19. a

The preferred embodiment of the hopper 19 has a normally horizontaltable portion 20 and an inclined loading portion or chute 21. Theloading portion 21 of the hopper 19 is provided with upwardly andoutwardly extending sidewalls 22. The table portion 20 of the hopper 19is also provided with sidewalls 30-that merge with sidewalls 22. Thesidewalls 22 are of maximum height at the beginning of the loadingportion or chute 21 of the hopper 19 and gradually taper in heighttoward the table portion 20 of the hopper 19, Where they merge withsidewalls 30. The sidewalls 30 taper in height toward the delivery endof the table portion 20. The table portion 20 of the hopper 19 isprovided with downwardly extending front leg mounts 23 and rear legmounts 24, as shown in FIGURES 1, 7 and 8. Axles 17 and 18 are mountedthrough mounts 23 and 24 in register with the open-end trunnion supports14 and 15. As' shown in FIGURES 3, 4, and 6, the axles 17 and 18 canrest within both pairs of trunnion supports 14 and 15 simultaneously, orpivot on either the front pair of trunnion supports 14 or the rear pairof trunnion supports 15 as desired. The

'shape of the hopper 19, particularly the loading portion 21 can bemodified to meet the requirements of any desired industrial application.

In the present embodiment, the loading portion 21 of the hopper 19 isthe heaviest portion of the hopper 19, thereby placing the center ofgravity behind the rear leg mounts 15. The axles 18 resting in the reartrunnion supports 15 provide a fulcrum about which the entire structurepivots. The loading portion 21 of the hopper 19 thus will finally reston the floor, as shown in FIGURE 3, pivoting on the rear supporttrunnions 18. By varying the shape and size of loading portion 21 of thehopper 19 and the location of the drive unit 25 and motor 26 beneath thehopper 19 so that they are between the front a and rear pairs oftrunnion supports 14 and 15, the center of gravity is changed so thatthe hopper will normally rest on both pairs of trunnions 14 and 15. Inaddition, it is contemplated that the size and shape of loading portion21 and table portions 20 of the ladle feeding device can I be modifiedto make it suitable for limited space'utiliza- 'Other metals may beutilized provided that sufficient strength and stability be obtained. V

A hooking-plate 27 having an opening therein is welded to the loadingchute portion 21 of the hopper 19. As shown in FIGURE 1 the chain orcable 28 of a chain hoist or jib crane may be secured to the hookingplate 27. Actuation of such hoist means raises or lowers the hopper 19and pivots itabout the front or rear pair of trunnions 14 and 15, asdesired. Although not. shown in drawings, it is' within the scope of theinvention to actuate the hopper 19 by use of hydraulic piston-type meansor any other means of pivoting it about the trunnions. I

A vibratory feeder chute or bed 13 is seated within the table portion 20of the hopper 19, and is provided with a vibratory feeder chute or bedextension 29 extending outwardly and forwardly from said hopper-tableportion 20. The vibratory feeder chute or bed.13 is provided withsidewalls which matingly fit beneath a guide member 32 provided on thesidewalls 30 of the table portion 20 of the hopper 19 as shown in FIGURE9. The vibratory feeder chute or bed 13 reciprocates freely in the tableportion 20 of hopper 19 and is actuated by a motor 26 and vibratorydrive unit 25 suspended beneath the table portion 20 of the hopper 19. Aconnector bracket 31 s provided on the feeder chute or bed 13. andextends downwardly through an opening provided in the table portion 20of the hopper 19. The vibratory drive unit 25 is connected to theconnecting bracket 31 and is designed to transmit reciprocating movementto the feeder chute or bed 13, thus imparting forward travel to materialplaced thereon. Although the vibratory feeder chute or bed unit 13 canbe constructed of steel or other heat-resistant metal, the feederextension 29 is preferably constructed of an alloy particularlysuitedfor use in abrasive and corrosive high temperature settings because theextension 29 is normally positioned directly over a ladle containing thesteel or alloy heat, for example. In the preferred embodiment, theextension 29 is constructed from a heat-resistant nickel-chromium alloy.

Operation In operation, the ladle feeder assembly 11 is installedadjacent to and above a ladle, furnace or other installation to whichcontrolled additions of material are to be made. The support base 12 isinstalled to maintain the vibratory ladle feeder chute or bed 13 in ahorizontal position during normal ladle addition operations, as shown inFIGURE 4. The hopper 19 is placed in position above the support base 12,resting on the pairs of trunnion supports '14 and 15. In the. embodimentof the invention as shown in the drawings, the center of gravity of thehopper 19 is located so as to cause the loading chute portion 21, in itsfree position, to rest onvthe floor, pivoted about the rear pair oftrunnion supports 15. In this position, the loading portion 21 of thehopper 19 iseasily loaded with. additive material directly from lifttrucks, conveyors, wheel barrows, or other simple mechanical loadingdevices. However, the center of gravity may be changed by variations inshape and design of the hopper 19 so that the hopper 19 normally restson both pairs of supports 14 and 15, simultaneously. Thus, the loadingportion 21 of the hopper 19 can be decreased in size for use inlimited-space situations.v It is within the scope of this invention thatthe ladle feeder assembly 11 be designed to tie in with any type ofconveyor system provid-. ing for completely automatic handling of theadditive materials.

In the present embodiment, after the additive material I has been loadedon the loading portion 21 of the hopper 19, a chain hoist 28 isconnected to the hopper 19 by use of the hook plate 27.v The hopper 19is then raised to its normal horizontal feeding position, as shown inFIG-' URE 4. In this position, the hopper 19 rests on both the rear andfront pair of open-end trunnions 14 and 15. Actuated by the motor 26 anddrive unit 25, the vibratory feeder chute or bed 13 gradually deliversthe additive material over the end of the extension 29 at any desireduniform rate into a ladle or furnace. The loading portion 21 of thehopper 19 may be lowered to any position, pivoting the hopper 19 aboutthe rear pair of open-end trunnion supports 15. The angle of thevibratory feeder chute or bed 13 is thus changed, as shown in FIGURE 6,to give further control with respect to the rate and amounts of additivematerial being delivered.

In the event of failure of the motor 26, drive unit 25, or jamming ofthe vibratory feeder chute or bed 13 during the critical period in whichadditive material must be added to a heat, the hopper 19 can be pivotedon the front open-end trunnion supports 14, as shown in FIG- URE 5, tothe emergency dump position, completing delivery of the additivematerial to the heat at the required time, thus preventing spoilage ofan expensive heat.

A guide member 32 is provided on the sidewall 30 to form a guideway inwhich the feeder chute or bed 13 reciprocates, as shown in the partialbreak-away view of FIGURE 9.

Although the hopper 19 has been pivoted about the pairs of trunnionsupports 14 and 15 by use of a chain hoist, it is contemplated that ajib crane or hydraulictype piston can be used to actuate the hopper 19as desired.

It is thus seen that this invention brings about easier loading ofadditive material, superior controlled delivery of the material at anydesired rate and amount, and emergency dump delivery hitherto unknown inthe prior art, while employing a simple trouble-free unit.

Various modifications of the invention may be made without departingfrom the principle thereof. Each of these modifications is to beconsidered as included in the hereinafter appended claims unless theseclaims by their language expressly provide otherwise.

I claim:

1. A ladle feeder assembly comprising: a base; a pair of open-endtrunnions provided on said base; a hopper provided with downwardlydepending supports that freely rest upon said open-end trunnions, saidhopper having a horizontal table portion and an inclined loadingportion; a vibratory feeder bed seated within said table portion of saidhopper and extending outwardly therefrom; means provided under saidhopper to actuate said vibratory feeder bed; means provided on saidhopper for selectively controlling the pivoting of said hopper firstabout one of said pair of open-end trunnions and then about the other ofsaid open-end trunnions so as to facilitate loading of said hopper,controlling rate of flow over said vibratory feeder bed, and emergencydumping of said ladle feeder assembly.

2. A ladle feeder assembly comprising: a base; a pair of supportsprovided on said base; a hopper freely resting upon said supponts, saidhopper having a table portion and a loading portion; a vibratory feederbed seated within said table portion of said hopper and extendingoutwardly therefrom; means provided under said hopper to actuate saidvibratory feeder bed; means provided on said hopper for selectivelycontrolling the pivoting of said hopper first about one of said pair ofsupports and then about the other of said supports so as to facilitateloading of said hopper, controlling rate of flow over said vibratoryfeeder bed, and emergency dumping of said ladle feeder assembly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS833,761 Stevens Oct. 23, 1906 1,236,165 Hansen Aug. 7, 1917 1,542,951Perkins June 23, 1925 1,546,435 Chase July 21, 1925 2,100,878 ShallockNov. 30, 1937 2,109,939 Benjamin Mar. 1, 1938 2,311,373 Durning Feb. 16,1943 2,774,493 Winter Dec. 18, 1956

